a ride across palestine-第7部分

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traced　me　to　Jerusalem；　and　then　again　away；　and　will　follow　me
immediately。〃

〃That　is　all　very　well；〃　I　said；　〃but　let　even　a　young　man　do　the
best　he　can；　and　he　will　not　get　from　Jerusalem　to　Jaffa　in　less
than　twelve　hours。　　Your　uncle　is　not　a　young　man；　and　could　not
possibly　do　the　journey　under　two　days。〃

〃But　he　will　send。　　He　will　not　mind　what　money　he　spends。〃

〃And　if　he　does　send；　take　off　your　hat　to　his　messengers；　and　bid
them　carry　your　complaints　back。　　You　are　not　a　felon　whom　he　can
arrest。〃

〃No；　he　cannot　arrest　me；　but；　ah！　you　do　not　understand；〃　and　then
he　sat　up　on　the　bed；　and　seemed　as　though　he　were　going　to　wring
his　hands　in　despair。

I　waited　for　some　half　hour　in　his　room；　thinking　that　he　would　tell
me　this　story　of　his。　　If　he　required　that　I　should　give　him　my　aid
in　the　presence　either　of　his　uncle　or　of　his　uncle's　myrmidons；　I
must　at　any　rate　know　what　was　likely　to　be　the　dispute　between
them。　　But　as　he　said　nothing　I　suggested　that　he　should　stroll　out
with　me　among　the　orange…groves　by　which　the　town　is　surrounded。　　In
answer　to　this　he　looked　up　piteously　into　my　face　as　though　begging
me　to　be　merciful　to　him。　　〃You　are　strong；〃　said　he；　〃and　cannot
understand　what　it　is　to　feel　fatigue　as　I　do。〃　　And　yet　he　had
declared　on　commencing　his　journey　that　he　would　not　be　found　to
complain？　　Nor　had　he　complained　by　a　single　word　till　after　that
encounter　with　his　uncle。　　Nay；　he　had　borne　up　well　till　this　news
had　reached　us　of　the　boat　being　late。　　I　felt　convinced　that　if　the
boat　were　at　this　moment　lying　in　the　harbour　all　that　appearance　of
excessive　weakness　would　soon　vanish。　　What　it　was　that　he　feared　I
could　not　guess；　but　it　was　manifest　to　me　that　some　great　terror
almost　overwhelmed　him。

〃My　idea　is；〃　said　I；　and　I　suppose　that　I　spoke　with　something　less
of　good…nature　in　my　tone　than　I　had　assumed　for　the　last　day　or
two；　〃that　no　man　should；　under　any　circumstances；　be　so　afraid　of
another　man；　as　to　tremble　at　his　presence；either　at　his　presence
or　his　expected　presence。〃

〃Ah；　now　you　are　angry　with　me；　now　you　despise　me！〃

〃Neither　the　one　nor　the　other。　　But　if　I　may　take　the　liberty　of　a
friend　with　you；　I　should　advise　you　to　combat　this　feeling　of
horror。　　If　you　do　not；　it　will　unman　you。　　After　all；　what　can　your
uncle　do　to　you？　　He　cannot　rob　you　of　your　heart　and　soul。　　He
cannot　touch　your　inner　self。〃

〃You　do　not　know；〃　he　said。

〃Ah　but；　Smith；　I　do　know　that。　　Whatever　may　be　this　quarrel
between　you　and　him；　you　should　not　tremble　at　the　thought　of　him；
unless　indeed〃

〃Unless　what？〃

〃Unless　you　had　done　aught　that　should　make　you　tremble　before　every
honest　man。〃　　I　own　I　had　begun　to　have　my　doubts　of　him；　and　to
fear　that　he　had　absolutely　disgraced　himself。　　Even　in　such　case
I；I　individually；did　not　wish　to　be　severe　on　him；　but　I　should
be　annoyed　to　find　that　I　had　opened　my　heart　to　a　swindler　or　a
practised　knave。

〃I　will　tell　you　all　to…morrow；〃　said　he；　〃but　I　have　been　guilty　of
nothing　of　that　sort。〃

In　the　evening　he　did　come　out；　and　sat　with　me　as　I　smoked　my
cigar。　　The　boat；　he　was　told；　would　almost　undoubtedly　come　in　by
daybreak　on　the　following　morning；　and　be　off　at　nine；　whereas　it
was　very　improbable　that　any　arrival　from　Jerusalem　would　be　so
early　as　that。　　〃Beside；〃　I　reminded　him；　〃your　uncle　will　hardly
hurry　down　to　Jaffa；　because　he　will　have　no　reason　to　think　but
what　you　have　already　started。　　There　are　no　telegraphs　here；　you
know。〃

In　the　evening　he　was　still　very　sad；　though　the　paroxysm　of　his
terror　seemed　to　have　passed　away。　　I　would　not　bother　him；　as　he
had　himself　chosen　the　following　morning　for　the　telling　of　his
story。　　So　I　sat　and　smoked；　and　talked　to　him　about　our　past
journey；　and　by　degrees　the　power　of　speech　came　back　to　him；　and　I
again　felt　that　I　loved　him！　　Yes；　loved　him！　　I　have　not　taken　many
such　fancies　into　my　head；　at　so　short　a　notice；　but　I　did　love　him；
as　though　he　were　a　younger　brother。　　I　felt　a　delight　in　serving
him；　and　though　I　was　almost　old　enough　to　be　his　father；　I
ministered　to　him　as　though　he　had　been　an　old　man；　or　a　woman。

On　the　following　morning　we　were　stirring　at　daybreak；　and　found
that　the　vessel　was　in　sight。　　She　would　be　in　the　roads　off　the
town　in　two　hours'　time；　they　said；　and　would　start　at　eleven　or
twelve。　　And　then　we　walked　round　by　the　gate　of　the　town；　and
sauntered　a　quarter　of　a　mile　or　so　along　the　way　that　leads　towards
Jerusalem。　　I　could　see　that　his　eye　was　anxiously　turned　down　the
road；　but　he　said　nothing。　　We　saw　no　cloud　of　dust；　and　then　we
returned　to　breakfast。

〃The　steamer　has　come　to　anchor；〃　said　our　dirty　Polish　host　to　us
in　execrable　English。　　〃And　we　may　be　off　on　board；〃　said　Smith。
〃Not　yet；〃　he　said；　〃they　must　put　their　cargo　out　first。〃　　I　saw；
however；　that　Smith　was　uneasy；　and　I　made　up　my　mind　to　go　off　to
the　vessel　at　once。　　When　they　should　see　an　English　portmanteau
making　an　offer　to　come　up　the　gangway；　the　Austrian　sailors　would
not　stop　it。　　So　I　called　for　the　bill；　and　ordered　that　the　things
should　be　taken　down　to　the　wretched　broken　heap　of　rotten　timber
which　they　called　a　quay。　　Smith　had　not　told　me　his　story；　but　no
doubt　he　would　as　soon　as　he　was　on　board。

I　was　in　the　act　of　squabbling　with　the　Pole　over　the　last　demand
for　piastres；　when　we　heard　a　noise　in　the　gateway　of　the　inn；　and　I
saw　Smith's　countenance　become　pale。　　It　was　an　Englishman's　voice
asking　if　there　were　any　strangers　there；　so　I　went　into　the
courtyard；　closing　the　door　behind　me；　and　turning　the　key　upon　the
landlord　and　Smith。　　〃Smith；〃　said　I　to　myself；　〃will　keep　the　Pole
quiet　if　he　have　any　wit　left。〃

The　man　who　had　asked　the　question　had　the　air　of　an　upper　English
servant；　and　I　thought　that　I　recognised　one　of　those　whom　I　had
seen　with　the　old　gentleman　on　the　road；　but　the　matter　was　soon　put
at　rest　by　the　appearance　of　that　gentleman　himself。　　He　walked　up
into　the　courtyard；　looked　hard　at　me　from　under　those　bushy
eyebrows；　just　raised　his　hat；　and　thensaid；　〃I　believe　I　am
speaking　to　Mr。　Jones。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　I；　〃I　am　Mr。　Jones。　　Can　I　have　the　honour　of　serving
you？〃

There　was　something　peculiarly　unpleasant　about　this　man's　face。　　At
the　present　moment　I　examined　it　closely；　and　could　understand　the
great　aversion　which　his　nephew　felt　towards　him。　　He　looked　like　a
gentleman　and　like　a　man　of　talent；　nor　was　there　anything　of
meanness　in　his　face；　neither　was　he　ill…looking；　in　the　usual
acceptation　of　the　word；　but　one　could　see　that　he　was　solemn；
austere；　and　overbearing；　that　he　would　be　incapable　of　any　light
enjoyment；　and　unforgiving　towards　all　offences。　　I　took　him　to　be　a
man　who；　being　old　himself；　could　never　remember　that　he　had　been
young；　and　who；　therefore；　hated　the　levities　of　youth。　　To　me　such
a　character　is　specially　odious；　for　I　would　fain；　if　it　be
possible；　be　young　even　to　my　grave。　　Smith；　if　he　were　clever；
might　escape　from　the　window　of　the　room；　which　opened　out　upon　a
terrace；　and　still　get　down　to　the　steamer。　　I　would　keep　the　old
man　in　play　for　some　time；　and；　even　though　I　lost　my　passage；　would
be　true　to　my　friend。　　There　lay　our　joint　luggage　at　my　feet　in　the
yard。　　If　Smith　would　venture　away　without　his　portion　of　it；　all
might　yet　be　right。

〃My　name；　sir；　is　Sir　William　Weston；〃　he　began。　　I　had　heard　of　the
name　before；　and　knew　him　to　be　a　man　of　wealth；　and　family；　and
note。　　I　took　off　my　hat；　and　said　that　I　had　much　honour　in　meeting
Sir　William　Weston。

〃And　I　presume　you　know　the　object　with　which　I　am　now　here；〃　he
continued。

〃Not　exactly；〃　said　I。　　〃Nor　do　I　understand　how　I　possibly　should
know　it；　seeing　that；　up　to　this　moment；　I　did　not　even　know　your
name；　and　have　heard　nothing　concerning　either　your　movements　or
your　affairs。〃

〃Sir；〃　said　he；　〃I　have　hitherto　believed　that　I　might　at　any　rate
expect　from　you　the　truth。〃

〃Sir；〃　said　I；　〃I　am　bold　to　think　that　you　will　not　dare　to　tell
me；　either　now；　or　at　any　other　time；　that　you　have　received；　or
expect　to　receive；　from　me　anything　that　is　not　true。〃

He　then　stood　still；　looking　at　me　for　a　moment　or　two；　and　I　beg　to
assert　that　I　looked　as　fully　at　him。　　There　was；　at　any　rate；　no
cause　why　I　should　tremble　before　him。　　I　was　not　his　nephew；　nor
was　I　responsible　for　his　nephew's　doings　towards　him。　　Two　of　his
servants　were　behind　him；　and　on　my　side　there　stood　a　boy　and　girl
belonging　to　the　inn。　　They；　however；　could　not　understand　a　word　of
English。　　I　saw　that　he　was　hesitating；　but　at　last　he　spoke　out。　　I
confess；　now；　that　his　words；　when　they　were　spoken；　did；　at　the
first　moment；　make　me　tremble。

〃I　have　to　charge　you；〃　said　he；　〃with　eloping　with　my　niece；　and　I
demand　of　you　to　inform　me　where　she　is。　　You　are　perfectly　aware
that　I　am　her　guardian　by　law。〃

I　did　tremble；not　that　I　cared　much　for　Sir　William's
guardianship；　but　I　saw　before　me　so　terrible　an　embarrassment！　　And
then　I　felt　so　thoroughly　abashed　in　that　I　had　allowed　myself　to　be
so　deceived！　　It　all　came　back　upon　me　in　a　moment；　and　covered　me
with　a　shame　that　even　made　me　blush。　　I　had　travelled　through　the
desert　with　a　woman　for　days；　and　had　not　discovered　her；　though　she
had　given　me　a　thousand　signs。　　All　those　signs　I　remembered　now；
and　I　blushed　pain　fully。　　When　her　hand　was　on　my　forehead　I　still
thought　that　she　was　a　man！　　I　declare　that　at　this　moment　I　felt　a
stronger　disinclination　to　face　my　late　companion　than　I　did　to
encounter　her　angry　uncle。

〃Your　niece！〃　I　said；　speaking　with　a　sheepish　bewilderment　which
should　have　convinced　him　at　once　of　my　innocence。　　She　had　asked
me；　too；　whether　I　was　a　married　man；　and　I　had　denied　it。　　How　was
I　to　escape　from　such　a　mess　of　misfortunes？　　I　declare　that　I　began
to　forget　her　troubles　in　my　own。

〃Yes；　my　niece；Miss　Julia　Weston。　　The　disgrace　which　you　have
brought　upon　me　must　be　wiped　out；　but　my　first　duty　is　to　save　that
unfortunate　young　woman　from　further　misery。〃

〃If　it　be　as　you　say；〃　I　exclaimed；　〃by　the　honour　of　a　gentleman〃